| Anorexia, Bulimia, & Binge Eating Disorder: What is an Eating Disorder? |
Eating disorders such as anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating disorder include extreme emotions,
attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.
They are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for
females and males.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age,
and activity level
Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”
Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging.
Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in
short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or
over-exercising.
Symptoms include:
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or
diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is characterized
primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling
comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and
often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle
with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge
eating. Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
attitudes, and behaviors surrounding weight and food issues.
They are serious emotional and physical problems that can have life-threatening consequences for
females and males.
ANOREXIA NERVOSA is characterized by self-starvation and excessive weight loss.
Symptoms include:
Refusal to maintain body weight at or above a minimally normal weight for height, body type, age,
and activity level
Intense fear of weight gain or being “fat”
Feeling “fat” or overweight despite dramatic weight loss
Loss of menstrual periods
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BULIMIA NERVOSA is characterized by a secretive cycle of binge eating followed by purging.
Bulimia includes eating large amounts of food--more than most people would eat in one meal--in
short periods of time, then getting rid of the food and calories through vomiting, laxative abuse, or
over-exercising.
Symptoms include:
Repeated episodes of bingeing and purging
Feeling out of control during a binge and eating beyond the point of comfortable fullness
Purging after a binge, (typically by self-induced vomiting, abuse of laxatives, diet pills and/or
diuretics, excessive exercise, or fasting)
Frequent dieting
Extreme concern with body weight and shape
BINGE EATING DISORDER (also known as COMPULSIVE OVEREATING) is characterized
primarily by periods of uncontrolled, impulsive, or continuous eating beyond the point of feeling
comfortably full. While there is no purging, there may be sporadic fasts or repetitive diets and
often feelings of shame or self-hatred after a binge. People who overeat compulsively may struggle
with anxiety, depression, and loneliness, which can contribute to their unhealthy episodes of binge
eating. Body weight may vary from normal to mild, moderate, or severe obesity.
Dr. Pamela Mark
Licensed Psychologist
Licensed Psychologist
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Information provided by
the National Eating
Disorders Association.
National Eating
Disorders Association's
Information and Referral
Helpline:
1-800-931-2237 and
website:
www.
NationalEatingDisorders.
org